Best bookstores in Indianapolis: find options near you

None of the CDs have CDs in them… They are all empty… will never come back. I advise the same for all CD lovers. Also wouldn’t be shocked if it was a worker. The pictures don’t even cover just how many were missing.

An absolute adventure for readers as they travel through the forest of books. From classics to modern day reclaiming the lost art of reading is an amazing diversion from the distractions of this world.

such a great bookshop experience. The whole store was lined with books of every genera. the store even had a robust record selection. I was searching for something specific and the staff was super helpful! I wish i could’ve browsed for hours. I will definitely be returning

It’s been years since I have visited one of these stores. I was surprised at the price of most of their books pretty expensive since they don’t pay much when they buy them from customers.

The staff has changed a bit. I felt they no longer value customer service. I tried to ask a simple question and was told to go upfront. I felt I was putting them out.

Maybe I caught them on a bad day but I left feeling like I’m not missing much if I don’t shop here. I feel a 3️⃣ ⭐️ review is fair.

Decent collection of books and items. Prices dont seem unreasonable. Aisles are a little skinny but alternative would probably be fewer books out.

Efficient for selling books (but don’t plan on making big bucks) and their front-facing titles are changed regularly. I like to open my library and/or Goodreads TBR list while there to find new things to read. The people are always helpful when you go ask them a question. I suggest visiting for no less than ½ an hour or plan for an hour to sell & peruse the shelves. There’s truly something for everyone.

This is a cool bookstore. A ton of good books that are img great condition, as well as other second items like CDs, DVDs, Funko Pops, games, and more.

Prices are super good and the staff is friendly.

Is there a better way to inspire your new grad than to stop at this beautiful knowledge outpost called Barnes and Noble? This place is massive, well-lit and very organized. Find interesting toys and board games here. Get a cup of coffee and some snacks at the embedded Starbucks. There is also a play area for junior explorers.

Great bookstore. So many interesting books on every theme. Found many on spirituality, personal growth psychology for my taste.

I’d been looking locally for a copy of Invisible Women for months and the customer service desk was able to confirm that they had it and directed me accordingly. I ended up lingering a while longer and picked up a few more books. The staff was friendly and very helpful!

I spend way too much time and money here! Great selection of items and timely displayed for the time of year/events happening. Store is clean.

Place was extremely clean and in a great area. Selection of books was of course amazing. Staff was friendly and the coffee was great.

Very nice selection. My significant other found a decent amount of books he was looking for for a decent price

Found a Kacey Musgrave La vinyl here for 50% off. That is the day I fell in love with Kacey. 5 stars for having a good deal on her vinyl. Also found Kendrick, Audio Slave and Nirvana Bleach. This was a good day.

Are you looking for a sweet bookstore in Indianapolis? I took a walk down the culture trail from the Hyatt place and the journey was well worth it. I found a wonderful used/new bookstore that has literacy programs. Feed my book addiction and help others? Pick me!!

My husband and I are book lovers and collectors. We found the most beautiful copy of Wind in the Willows (vintage) and had to purchase it today. The store attendant was so pleasant to interact with and had several recommendations on where to find readings locally. The store was beautifully decorated (see my photos) and had a great selection of new and used books. We were also able to contribute to literacy when checking out. All in all a great experience. Stop in here if you’re checking out Mass Ave!

I like what I witnessed and a very good conversation circle for people trying to improve their English Language skills. I’m looking forward to learning more about their services to potentially help my student families learning English and also may need help with literacy. Thank you!!

This was my first time going to a non-chain bookstore and it was great! The atmosphere was very bookish, the place was nice and clean, and the displays were interesting. It had a very “come sit down and read or play some chess or do some homework” feel to it, which I loved. Wish I had one of these close to my house!!

Indy Reads is a wonderful place dedicated to literacy and fostering a love of reading. There’s always some fun event there to attend, and the collection of books they have is impressive.

This is one of my favorite bookstores. I love the work they do for the community. They have great prices and have had free books from time to time. They also support local artists and crafts makers. When I think of community I think of Indy Reads

Great selection of books for great prices, and purchases support literacy programs on the city! Love the activism and gathering space!

Quick trip in, but I can tell im going to love coming here. It’s so organized and so much space to! I didnt get the chance to take more pictures cause I was distracted.

Uses the old bait and switch. Big sale Buy 1 get one 50% off then everything rings up full price and we get told oh these are not part of the sale. Go to Barnes and Noble if you buy books

10/10 I love this bookstore! The shelves are always stocked. They have a great mix of all media type (new releases, classics, clearance, magazines, non-fiction) I love gimmicks so I love that they have a lot of content bundled into sections by fandom/series/etc. They even have a book too section. My only critique is that some of their non-book products (bags/purses, cups, toys, collectables) are severely over priced and I can usually find the same thing online for much cheaper.

Very nice setup. Needless to say, many books, along with plenty of merchandise, for book readers to purchase. There is some records. You can sit & scan through a book before you buy it. If you’re a reader, stop by and save a little money on best sellers and more. ENJOY!!!

I’m obsessed with BAM. They always have such wonderful bookish merchandise! & Seeing more indie author books for sale makes me happy! I always shop at BAM when I’m up north as I don’t have one in my town. Definitely check them out!

Definitely has a large array of genres. Great kids and baby section. They also have little gifts you can buy.

I love this store. There’s never a line. They have a whole section of tik tok common showed books. Upu get discounts after every $25 spent. And you get books for under $10 at tables. Big win

This place has good staff and it’s a good place to meet up with friends and their free events are fun. The food is really not the best (mostly microwaved and it’s pricy) and the non-alcoholic drinks are all bottled, but the cider is good. Seating is uncomfortable and the lights are not very cozy. Otherwise, this is a decent place to hang out.

Great choice of brews and Lots of games/books to play & read!
Only 4 ⭐️ because of first beertender-not quite as friendly as we’re used to, didn’t ask any questions -we had to ask since it was our first time here. Other beertender much more personable.
I would definitely come again with friends & family!
Active calendar of events as well!

Book & Brews is truly a unique place. I usually slip in there in the afternoons (it opens at 2pm) to write… It’s somewhat hidden off of 96th Street… And, upon entering, remarkably unpretentious. The front of the store has books, games, shirts, and a whole lot of merchandise that gamers and the like would drool over.

When you walk to the back, you’ll enter the bar area with a larger entertainment space off to the side. Is 2pm too early to start drinking? Not if you’re part of the ‘Mug Club’… Your one time lifetime membership fee gets you smashing deals on craft beer served to you in a handmade 22oz mug. (Oh… You get a mug for joining too.)

The beers are great… If you’re looking for Miller Lite… You won’t find it here. They have a selection of craft brews from other breweries as well as a selection that they brew in-house. [Hey guys… Bring back that lavender-infused beer… That was great!] They also have a simple but delicious food menu… My usual go-to is the grilled cheese.

I like the place… Because in a weird way… It’s like a quiet speakeasy… I can go there… Plug in… And write while sipping on a mug of beer.

I came in on a Tuesday afternoon. I was looking for a quiet place to hang out and enjoy my thoughts. Not being much of a drinker, I wasn’t there for the brews, but the books/games are a great atmosphere to be around.
I found a booth in back. Some people want to be bombarded by customer service, I’m one who will find help when needed. As there was only 3 people in the bar area, I was able to strike up a conversation with the table cleaner Jason. This young man has upper management written all over him. He provided great conversation and inspirational quips that I’m still contemplating. I hope that the ownership of Books and Brews see the potential Jason has, and puts him into a managerial training program, he’s an asset you don’t want to let go of.
Music was loud, that was my only complaint. Other than that, I will continue to frequent this establishment, and enjoy some of the other activities and nights they offer.

Such a cool spot to read your book and have some live entertainment. Band was amazing! Hoping their book selection grows too. The tap room is 21+ and the entrance and side room (with the stage) are fir everyone.

I fell in love with this place for the second I walked in.
They have a gaming station as well as a lot of books to browse.
The beer selection was not a lot in terms of quantity but the quality was great. I tried two IPA’s and both were superb.
We bought 3 pop funkos, 2 books and many beers for under $100.
I recommend a visit 10/10! We will be back.

We came for anime trivia on a Monday night! This is a great place to hangout and meet people, and they’ve got a whole schedule for events throughout the week.

They’ve got boardgames, books (including manga) and trading card games for sale and a bar in the back. There is also a small stage area in the back room.

Prices were reasonable and the food was perfect for snacking: we ordered chicken nuggets as well as pizza rolls

Irvington Vinyl & Books is truly such a gem!! Elysia is a wonderful store owner – always so kind and informative!

I love browsing through what all is new & seeing if I can find anything I may have my eye on, and never feel rushed. I don’t think I’ve ever been in and left empty handed! This particular visit I ended up scoring a 1975 reissue of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of The Moon”!

The shop kitties are so lovely and sweet, too, and I love seeing the altar for Miss Violet when I visit (sweetest girl ever, miss her always!).

10/10 overall!! Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area, or if you just love vinyl and books, CDs, cassettes, or VHS tapes.

Best vintage store, period, in Indy. LP records, cassettes, paperbacks. All media tested for playback quality. Jewelry & candles & all kind of treasures to boot. Fun, friendly staff. Be sure to venture to the back rooms. Local art in the last room in a dresser. Plan to spend an hour — at the very least. (Cats are cuties.)

My first visit here revealed a charming oasis of knowledge, music and art that immediately captured my imagination and curiosity. It was a fantastic place to find my quiet mind again browsing through their extensive collection if books and music. Navigating through the various rooms of what I treasure most was a pleasing adventure, anticipating what was around the next corner. I am well into one of the books I bought, in this case to understand something I know little about. Irvington Vinyl and Books is food for my ravenous mind and I am grateful to have found it. The staff here are friendly and engaging, along with the other patrons I visited with. I love it!

All sorts of books and zines and some artwork by local artists for sale. I’m not a vinyl shopper but by what I hear from others their vinyl stock is as robust as their book stock. Never know what you will find. But you will find something neat for sure. Sometimes there are shop cats

Absolutely gem and one of the institutions that makes Irvington such a special community place. Over the years I’ve gotten handcrafted jewelry – gifts for loved ones – gorgeous tarot decks and most recently a super quirky vintage book of quotes/meditations from the 70’s (with a beautifully thoughtful personal inscription – seems the original owner revived it as a gift from a dear friend – which makes it feel all the more magical!)

Recently stopped here to check out there collection. Nice Quaint little place with alot of variety. I think not best area to have to drive to suggest going during day and make sure you have enough gas. Area run down around it and if you drive in wrong direction. Otherwise I would go again. Very friendly staff that works place and have nice size old book collection besides Vinyls.

One of the best bookstores in Indy! It’s a small space filled with all kinds of genres, new and old. The folks there are also always willing to order a book for you if you cannot find what you need. We love them and so happy this staple is here in our neighborhood!

TL;DR: It’s a great bookstore. A must visit if you are around Indy.

Tomorrow is an absolute gem and has truly become a second home for me. The owners are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met.

One of my favorite things is one of the many book clubs they hosts— it’s been the highlight of my year! It’s not just about the books (though they always pick great ones ); it’s about the wonderful community and the friends I’ve made along the way.

Their membership program is fantastic—it gives me great discounts on books and other perks that make it even easier to keep coming back. They special member events (like the advanced reader copy auction) is one of my favorites!

This isn’t just a place to buy books; it’s a place to feel at home, meet amazing people, and just be part of the community that will help you get through the year. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re missing out!

A charming bookstore with an incredible selection and an even more outstanding staff. Bea has helped me on numerous occasions and is extremely knowledgeable about many genres. I went in looking for a book I saw months prior, didn’t know the title, and could only give a vague description of the cover and story. She picked it off the shelf in a matter of moments. I absolutely love Tomorrow Bookstore and you should too.

Favorite bookstore in Indy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tomorrow is not just a bookstore, it’s a community. I can rant so much about the weekly book clubs, an annual membership (with exclusive events and so many discounts!), activities with other local businesses/bookshops and so much more. Julia and Jake are amazing, but did you also know about the bookstore’s cat Sweet Potato? In summary, Tomorrow is one of my most favorite parts about Indy.

Ps: I also LOVE all their gay stuff ✨

Tomorrow Bookstore is a VIBE! They always have what I’m looking for, but if they don’t, they are more than happy to order it for me. They put on amazing events with local authors and community businesses.
I have the yearly membership and am a proud book club member of CPP.
Make sure you check them out on your next visit to Mass Ave!

I stopped in Tomorrow Bookstore while visiting Indy and it was lovely! They are a small shop, but pack in an excellent selection for all types of readers. Great representation in many genres & categories. I also loved their shop t-shirts & totes! I will 100% stop by again if I’m ever back in Indy.

finally got the chance to go to tomorrow and it was amazing! the selection across genres is amazing. I love to see a bookstore supporting smaller presses and bringing attention to books I’ve never heard of before. I hope I’m able to come back someday and look over every book in the store.
The staff takes great care with each book, it is so wonderful to see. I had a great conversation with several team members about one of the books and whether it was about a person or a system, in order to more effectively sort it on the shelf. It is very rare to see that level of care and thought put in, and I love it.
Lastly, I’ve been able to attend two of their events and they were amazing. The effort to bring in authors from diverse backgrounds, genres, and literary age categories is amazing, and the events were so well put together and moderated. If you ever get the chance, I would highly recommend their author events.
Overall, Tomorrow is an amazing store stocked with wonderful books by thoughtful people. Highly recommend

Love this bookstore on mass ave! It’s small but they have a good selection of new releases, sci-fi and suspense. There’s young adult section too. The workers are super friendly and helpful, you’re guaranteed to find a book you will like! Plus a couple chairs to sit and enjoy your afternoon reading a little before you buy!

Driving in Indy when I randomly came across this gem and it is hands down one of the best bookshops I’ve ever been to. The shop itself is beautiful, bright, and inviting and the books are so organized that it makes browsing so peaceful. If you’re a book lover, this is a must visit!

Beautiful and cozy store! Fairly well stocked manga/graphics novel section and awesome kids area. I really love the note cards by the books with insights and staff favorites to help me find a new treasure. The staff is friendly and helpful. The woman who checked me out gave me a great recommendation about freebies on the author’s website of the children’s book I was buying. The only downside was I had trouble parking but I did visit on the Indy Indie Book Crawl so it may not be as hectic normally. I will definitely be back!

Lovely independent book store, filled with warm fixtures and a good, well-curated selection of books for all interests.

New favorite bookstore! Their merch is inclusive and they are warm, friendly, and offer excellent book recommendations. I picked up a copy of Alice Munro’s Runaway-fantastic choice.

An extremely cute bookstore in Indy with anything from funky bookmarks to personal library sets, and the cherry on the top is that you can sit and work in cozy corners with free wifi! The staff is super nice to let you help yourself to yummy tea and very helpful if you want to chit-chat about book recommendations! Plus you can also donate/sell your books here, they have book club events that you can join 🙂

HUGE bookstore. Their use of space is really incredible. They are able to fit so many books that it becomes incredibly hard to limit yourself to only one book, or two books, or three…or four. Usually they have more than one copy of new books too, so if you go with a friend you can both pick up a copy for a buddy read. They also have book clubs, including a horror bookclub!

The Whispering Shelf is a magical little book shop! I could have spent hours browsing. The shelves being painted the green is one of my favorite things ever! They had a great selection of books. They have a cozy seating area in case you want to stay a while after you buy some goodies.

Great NEW COMIC PLACE….lots of choices on covers from Indie to classic. This is a new readers store for sure. There are many back issue bins to look through including some nice bargain bins. Be prepared for bagging and boarding loose comics in bins.

Quite a nice store, with a quite a large stock of comics and graphic novels. They did not have all the titles I was looking for, however the lady at the counter helped me find the right ones in an alternative and cheaper way – which was very much appreciated. Definitely recommended.

First time ever going into a comic shop and definitely my last time going to the downtown comics. I was looking for a certain comic for my husband and the cashier was rude and wasn’t welcoming at all. I see why there was only 1 customer in there. I’ll spend my money elsewhere. Zero stars!!!

Nice comic book store.
Had so e games and other stuff as well.
Worth the stop

Lots of fun. My kiddos found something for all their different tastes

Wide selection of books, toys, and other items you’d to love see when in a comic store!! Would recommend!

Wonderful place!! Was visiting from out of town with a local friend and stopped by for a gift for my dad. Asked the employee working the counter for recommendations and he was so lovely. Turned out to be the owner and he took me down a whole path of star trek stuff that was really interesting to learn about. I wish I knew the owners name, because he was so friendly. If I ever visit Indianapolis again, I will definitely give this place more money.

One of the best comic book stores I’ve been too when it comes to organization. The few things that weren’t organized alphabetically were sold in sets, by the pound, or cheap prices like 50 cents. Their was also a large shelf dedicated to board games and several very unique books like a children’s retelling of Star wars id seen.

This comic book shop is a treasure trove for enthusiasts! They have a charming store with a great selection of both old and new comics. You can find bulk comics in cardboard boxes, all priced at just $5 per pound or something

This place is amazing! They have a good selection of comics and they are reasonably priced. The staff are also phenomenal. I ordered a comic before my vacation in September and unfortunately it didn’t make it in time. I came in today and both myself and the nice dude at the register found out it wasn’t ordered. He was very helpful with the situation, gave me the option of a refund or grabbing some comics that was the equivalent to what I paid for, and helped me pick out some books that were within the story I was trying to read.

A superior collection of golden books and a great aspect of fountain square, this store is your basic, cherished collection of graphic novels and back issues. They are happy to give out free comics during the appropriate holidays, although for me those days end in “y.” “Happy Tuesday! Have a comic!” “Joy!” True story.

Lots of books both modern and old. They have tons of comics on the top and boxes underneath as well. I thought the boxes on top were very well organized. The boxes below were a mix of $1 comics (bagged and unbagged) as well as sets. Neat place and the staff seemed friendly.

A pinnacle example of the “local comic book shop,” The Hero House is a one-room store densely packed with a wide variety of comics and graphic novels, including new releases. Of particular note are the staffers, who are extremely knowledgeable about their stock, and are more than happy to help you locate anything specific, if they have it available. It is worth noting that the long comic boxes located on the upper shelves have all bagged and boarded comics, and many are priced appropriately based on their condition and rarity. For casual readers or serious collectors, there’s definitely something for everybody here. Support small businesses!

Mike, the owner, is always friendly and greets me when I enter. The merchandise is well organized and Mike’s daughter Ruby helps to keep the shop running and clean! If you don’t find what you are looking for on that particular
day Mike is great about ordering what it is you are looking for and getting it shipped in. The Hero House isn’t just a place to shop but a way of life as there are many shops and restaurants near by in Historic Fountain Square as well. The Hero House is a great destination for Holiday shopping and the collector at heart. ☺️